Ultimately, we cannot say that eating a vegan or vegetarian or meat diet is any better for the environment. This is because all can be appropriate if production systems are sustainable, there is no waste and positive health outcomes are achieved. There are clearly trade-offs in choosing foods. Air freighting of green beans from Kenya into the UK was seen as unsustainable because of air miles but it also supports up to 1.5m people and livelihoods in some of the poorest regions of Sub-Saharan Africa. It's not just meat that increase greenhouse gases. Rice -- produced on 163m hectares, around 12% of the global arable area -- has one of the greatest plant carbon footprints because it produces a lot of methane.

There have not been any randomized-controlled trials, the gold standard to prove cause and effect, that looked at the effects of a vegetarian or vegan diet on pregnancy. However, a 2015 review of 22 observational studies on vegan and vegetarian pregnancies discovered no increase in major birth defects or other serious problems in offspring or mothers. The 2015 review, published in BJOG, an international journal of obstetrics and gynecology, included only healthy women. The authors said more research is needed to determine whether expecting women who have certain health conditions can safely continue a plant-based diet.

“I was vegetarian since I was a child and then became vegan as an adult for ethical reasons.“There is an abundance of information and helpful websites out there. Try and find a vegan blog or page that you can relate to and enjoy following and then contact them directly and ask for some guidance. “I love receiving messages from people looking to go vegan. It’s why I set up ‘I’m A Little Vegan’ all those years ago. “I have a shelf of large screw top jars that I keep topped up with all my basic grains, nuts and seeds. “It’s usually the Quay Co-Op or Natures Choice, then for my meat-free alternatives and dairy-free butter, milk and vegan cheeses and then fresh fruit and veg weekly from the endless farmers markets around Cork.”

U.S. News & World Report ranked the vegan diet No. 19 on its list of best diets overall. It also ranks in the top 10 for best weight-loss diets, best-heart-healthy diets, and best diabetes diets. Basically, vegans eliminate all animal and dairy products (also eggs) from their diet. U.S. News cited this includes anything made with gelatin, “which comes from animal bones and hooves.” Dieters instead load up on fruits, vegetables, leafy greens, whole grains, nuts, seeds, and legumes. Since animal products are the most convenient sources of protein and iron, vegans have a hard time getting an equal fix, which isn’t to say it’s impossible. PETA cited a cup of cooked lentils and a cup of cooked black beans each pack 18 grams of protein; a veggie burger patty packs 13g of protein; while 4 ounces of firm tofu packs 11g of protein.

Vegetarians and vegans may be low on the vitamins, minerals and fatty acids that are essential to neurological function. So the study may at least be a good reminder to add back what you may be lacking, either with food or with supplement. The authors, from the University of Bristol and the NIH, looked at data from 9,700 men in Britain—all were the husbands of pregnant women taking part in a long-term study on parent and child health. The men indicated whether they were vegetarian and vegan, and filled out questionnaires about the specific makeup of their typical diets.Men who were vegetarian/vegan, of which there were only 350 total (the team lumped the two groups together, since there weren't many vegans), were more likely to have depression than non-vegetarians, and more likely to have a higher depression score.

Tampa ranks No. 15 among U.S. cities for vegetarians and vegans, according to a new study by personal finance website WalletHub. The website examined 15 indicators, including the percentage of restaurants that serve meatlesss options and the cost of groceries for vegetarians. St. Petersburg ranked No. 71 overall on the list. Tampa ranked 18th for "vegetarian lifestyle" and 12th for diversity, accessibility and quality. The city ranked at No. 71 for affordability. Tampa also ranked 3rd for the percentage of vegetable nurseries per person and Miami ranked first in the category. The study compared the largest 100 cities in America.